If it was up to Osi Umenyiora, he'd be a Falcon next season. / Jim O'Connor, USA TODAY Sports

by Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

by Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

Whether the Atlanta Falcons want to sign Osi Umenyiora remains to be seen. But we know this much: He wants to play in Atlanta next season.

The former New York Giants defensive end and current free agent practically said so during an interview on the Jamie and Jerome Show on Atlanta's 92.9 The Game on Friday.

"The only thing I can think of that would be better than being able to win in New York would be to be able to win here in Atlanta," Umenyiora said, via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We'll see how that plays out. Hopefully, it works out in a positive direction."

Umenyiora, who lives in Atlanta in the offseason, visited with the Falcons on Wednesday, though he left without a deal.

That could be because the Falcons, who recently released John Abraham, are iffy on the nine-year veteran, or it could simply be that his agent, Tom Condon, represents three of the four big-name defensive ends currently available - Elvis Dumervil, Dwight Freeney and Umenyiora - and we don't know how much of a priority Umenyiora is right now.

But, really, Umenyiora and the Falcons seem like a perfect union, especially since he's excited by what he sees from the reigning NFC South champions.

"From afar, I've never seen a team that has this much talent, especially offensively with the weapons that they have out wide and a great quarterback ... and they added Steven Jackson, one of the best running backs in football," Umenyiora said. "The sky is the limit. Defensively, they are very good. ... They have all of the makings of a very good football team. They just need a couple of key pieces here and there, and they'll be OK."

Suffice to say Umenyiora is hoping he ends up one of those pieces.

UPDATE:Pro Football Talk, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, is reporting that Umenyiora will join the Falcons either Sunday or Monday.